Cylinder for toy gun and magazine module having the cylinder

ABSTRACT

A cylinder for a toy gun is assembled to the toy gun ( 100 ) for containing bullets. The cylinder ( 6 ) includes a fastening structure ( 61, 61   a ) and a surrounding structure ( 62 ). The fastening structure ( 61, 61   a ) is rotatably disposed on the toy gun ( 100 ). The surrounding structure ( 62 ) is surroundingly disposed in an outer periphery of the fastening structure ( 61, 61   a ). The surrounding structure ( 62 ) includes multiple sleeves ( 621 ) circularly connected to one another. Each sleeve ( 621 ) has a chamber ( 622 ) for containing the bullet. An inner wall of each chamber ( 622 ) is in elastic contact with the bullet to position the same. Accordingly, the cylinder ( 6 ) is suitable for all bullets (e.g. ball bullets ( 900 ) made from iron or lead or a plastic trumpet-shaped bullet ( 800 )), thereby enhancing utility, and all bullets can be positioned stably and properly in the chambers ( 622 ) without falling out.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The prevent invention relates to a cylinder and, in particular, to a cylinder for a toy gun and a magazine module having the cylinder.

BACKGROUND

A conventional toy gun includes a gun body, a trigger assembly, a projecting assembly, and a magazine module. The trigger assembly, the projecting assembly, and the magazine module are assembled to the gun body. The gun body has a gun barrel. The magazine module includes a magazine body and a cylinder. The cylinder is connected to one end of the magazine body and is rotatable with respect to the magazine body. The cylinder includes multiple chambers for containing bullets. Upon actuation of the trigger assembly, one of the chambers is in communication with the gun barrel, and then the bullet in the chamber is propelled by the propelling assembly, so the bullet is ejected out from the gun barrel by the propelling force. In order to prevent the bullet from being offset or even falling out from the chamber, the inventor once thought of positioning the bullet in the chamber by utilizing the magnetic force of the magnet. However, the bullets of the current toy guns not only include iron ball bullets that are magnetically attractive, but also include lead ball bullets, plastic trumpet-shaped bullets, and other bullets that are not magnetically attractive. Therefore, not all bullets can be positioned by means of magnets, and improvement is desired.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cylinder for a toy gun and a magazine module having the cylinder, so that the cylinder is suitable for all kinds of bullets (e.g. ball bullets made from iron or lead or plastic trumpet-shaped bullets), and all kinds of bullets can be positioned stably and properly in chambers without falling out.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a cylinder for a toy gun and a magazine module having the cylinder, wherein the cylinder can appropriately hold bullets to thereby improve the propelling power of the fired bullets.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a cylinder for a toy gun, assembled to a toy gun for containing bullets, the cylinder comprising: a fastening structure rotatably disposed on the toy gun; and a surrounding structure surroundingly disposed in an outer periphery of the fastening structure, the surrounding structure including a plurality of sleeves circularly connected to one another, each of the sleeves including a chamber for containing the bullet, an inner wall of each of the chambers being in elastic contact with the bullet to position the same.

The present invention also provides a magazine module having a cylinder for a toy gun for containing bullets, the magazine module comprising: a magazine body including a fastener structure; and a cylinder. The cylinder includes: a fastening structure, the fastening structure being rotatably disposed on the fastener structure; and a surrounding structure, the surrounding structure being surroundingly disposed in an outer periphery of the fastening structure, the surrounding structure including a plurality of sleeves circularly connected to one another, each of the sleeves including a chamber for containing the bullet, and an inner wall of each of the chambers being in elastic contact with the bullet to position the same.

Compared to the conventional techniques, the present invention has the following effects. The cylinder is suitable for all kinds of bullets (e.g. ball bullets made from iron or lead or plastic trumpet-shaped bullets), thereby enhancing utility and ensuring that all kinds of bullets are positioned stably and properly without falling out.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the drawings given herein below are for illustration only, and thus does not limit the disclosure, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view illustrating a magazine module used in a toy gun according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the magazine module according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cylinder according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the magazine module in the toy gun, illustrating using a trumpet-shaped bullet according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the magazine module in the toy gun, illustrating using a ball bullet according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a cylinder according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective exploded view of the present invention, illustrating a first configuration of the magazine module; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective exploded view of the present invention, illustrating a second configuration of the magazine module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Detailed descriptions and technical contents of the present invention are illustrated below in conjunction with the accompany drawings. However, it is to be understood that the descriptions and the accompany drawings disclosed herein are merely illustrative and exemplary and not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

The present invention provides a cylinder for a toy gun and a magazine module having the cylinder. As shown in FIG. 1, the magazine module 500 can be detachably assembled in a toy gun 100 by means of, for example, sliding. The magazine module 500 is adapted to contain bullets, so that the bullets can be fired from the toy gun 100.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the toy gun 100 includes a gun body 1 and a trigger assembly 2 and a projecting assembly 3 (see FIG. 4). The gun body 1 includes a gun barrel 11. The magazine module 500 of the present invention is detachably assembled in the gun body 1. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the magazine module 500 of the present invention includes a magazine body 5 and a cylinder 6. The cylinder 6 is disposed in the magazine body 5, and the cylinder 6 is rotatable with respect to the magazine body 5, so that the magazine module 500 can utilize the cylinder 6 to contain the bullets (e.g. a trumpet-shaped bullet 800 in FIG. 4 or a ball bullet 900 in FIG. 5).

The magazine body 5 includes an assembly portion 53, and the assembly portion 53 includes a fastener structure 54 for fixing the cylinder 6. Moreover, the magazine body 5 includes an air passage 51 (see FIG. 4), and the air passage 51 is in communication with a gas bottle 52 disposed in the magazine body 5. The assembly portion 53 is a recessed structure recessed from the magazine body 5.

The cylinder 6 includes a fastening structure 61 (see FIG. 4 or FIG. 7) and a surrounding structure 62 surroundingly disposed in an outer periphery of the fastening structure 61.

The fastening structure 61 can be disposed separately in the toy gun 100 (i.e. disposed in the toy gun 100 that has no magazines), or can be disposed in the toy gun 100 by means of the magazine body 5; the present invention is not limited in this regard. In the present embodiment, the fastening structure 61 is disposed in the toy gun 100 by means of the magazine body 5 as an example. To be specific, the cylinder 6 is disposed in the assembly portion 53 of the magazine body 5, and the fastening structure 61 of the cylinder 6 is rotatably disposed on the fastener structure 54 of the magazine body 5.

The surrounding structure 62 includes a plurality of sleeves 621 circularly connected with one another, each of the sleeves 621 includes a chamber 622, and the bullet is contained in the chamber 622 of each sleeve 621. An inner wall (not labelled) of each of the chambers 622 is in elastic contact with the outer circumference (not illustrated, in the basic embodiment) of the bullet to thereby position the bullet stably and properly in the chamber 622, or to even position the bullet in a predetermined position in the chamber 622.

To be specific, the surrounding structure 62 consists of rubber or other elastic material, or each of the sleeves 621 consists of rubber or other elastic material, so that the inner wall of each chamber 622 can elastically contact the outer circumference of the bullet to position the same (not illustrated, in the basic embodiment).

Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the plastic trumpet-shaped bullet 800 in FIG. 4 or the ball bullet 900 made from iron or lead can be in elastic contact with the inner wall of the chamber 622 to be positioned stably and properly, so this configuration is suitable for all kinds of bullets, no matter what types and materials of the bullets are. Furthermore, the inner wall of each chamber 622 can appropriately hold the bullet to thereby enhance the propelling power for the bullet on firing.

The fastening structure 61 in the cylinder 6 is hard, and can be made from metal or hard plastic for example, so that, by means of the fastening structure 61, the cylinder 6 can be rotatably disposed in the magazine body 5.

The gas bottle 52 (see FIG. 1) communicates with one of the chambers 622 of the cylinder 6 via the air passage 51. Actuation of the trigger assembly 2 drives an engagement block 625 to move to rotate the cylinder 6, so that one of the chambers 622 is in communication with the gun barrel 11, and the projecting assembly 3 can project the trumpet-shaped bullet 800 or the ball bullet 900 in the chamber 622.

It is preferable that each chamber 622 has some modifications to enhance the effect of positioning the bullet, as detailed below.

Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 5 showing the first modification embodiment. An inner wall of each sleeve 621 has a friction structure 624, and therefore the bullet can be in contact with the friction structure 624 in each chamber 622 to obtain friction to thereby stably and properly position the bullet in the chamber 622. To be specific, each of the sleeves 621 includes a bottom end 6211 (see FIG. 3) and a free end 6212 opposite to the bottom end 6211. The friction structure 624 includes a plurality of friction strips 6241, and the friction strips 6241 of each of the sleeves 621 extend in a direction from the bottom end 6211 toward the free end 6212. The friction strips 6241 can has a length from the bottom end 6211 to the free end 6212 (not illustrated), and also can have a length from a middle section in the sleeve 621 to the free end 6212 (or close to the free end 6212); the present invention is not limited in this regard.

Referring to FIG. 6 showing a second modification embodiment, each of the chambers 622 has a bottom end 6221 (see FIG. 3) and a free end 6222 opposite to the bottom end 6221. Each of the chambers 622 has a tapering inner diameter section 6223 close to each of the free ends 6222, and an inner diameter of the tapering inner diameter section 6223 gradually decreases in a direction from the bottom end 6221 toward the free end 6222, so that the friction of an inner surface (not illustrated) of the tapering inner diameter section 6223 against the outer circumference of the bullet can gradually increase, thereby the friction can stably and properly position the bullet in the chamber 622, and the propelling force for the bullet on firing also increases. Certainly, the tapering inner diameter design is not limited to the tapering inner diameter section 6223, and the inner diameter of the whole chamber 622 can also taper gradually, i.e. the inner diameter of the whole chamber 622 gradually decreases in a direction from the bottom end 6221 toward the free end 6222.

A mentioned above, the three methods used to position the bullet stably and properly are: utilizing the inner wall of the chamber 622 to make elastic contact with the outer circumference of the bullet according to the basic embodiment; utilizing the friction structure 624 according to the first modification embodiment; and utilizing the chamber 622 having the tapering inner diameter according to the second modification embodiment. Certainly, in addition to using one of the three methods, any two methods can be combined for use, and the three methods can even be combined together for use.

In the magazine module 500, the cylinder 6 can be assembled in the magazine body 5 by a variety of configurations, as detailed below. FIGS. 1 to 7 illustrate a first configuration of the magazine module 500. The fastening structure 61 of the cylinder 6 can be a recess hole 611, and the fastener structure 54 of the magazine body 5 is a protruding shaft 541 corresponding to the recess hole 611. The protruding shaft 541 is rotatably connected to the recess hole 611, so the cylinder 6 is rotatable with respect to the magazine body 5 around the protruding shaft 541 as axis.

FIG. 8 shows a second configuration of the magazine module 500. The fastening structure 61 a of the cylinder 6 can be a protruding shaft 611 a, and the fastener structure 54 a of the magazine body 5 can be a recess hole 541 a corresponding to the protruding shaft 611 a, so the protruding shaft 611 a is rotatably connected to the recess hole 541 a, and thereby the cylinder 6 is rotatable with respect to the magazine body 5 around the protruding shaft 611 a as axis.

In the embodiments and all configurations shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, the cylinder 6 preferably includes a base 63, the bottom end 6211 of each of the sleeves 621 is connected to one side of the base 63 (see FIG. 4), the base 63 forms a plurality of openings 631 respectively corresponding to the chambers 622 (see FIG. 7 or FIG. 8), and each of the openings 631 is in communication with each of the chambers 622.

In summary, compared to conventional techniques, the present invention has the following effects. The cylinder 6 is suitable for all kinds of bullets (e.g. the ball bullets 900 made from iron or lead, or the plastic trumpet-shaped bullets 800), and all bullets can be stably and properly positioned in the chambers 622 without falling out. Each chamber 622 of the cylinder 6 can appropriately hold the bullet, thereby improving the propelling power of the fired bullet to increase the speed and the destructive power of the bullet. It is to be understood that the above descriptions are merely the preferable embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Equivalent changes and modifications made in the spirit of the present invention are regarded as falling within the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cylinder for a toy gun, assembled to a toy gun (100) for containing bullets, the cylinder (6) comprising: a fastening structure (61, 61 a) rotatably disposed on the toy gun (100); and a surrounding structure (62) surroundingly disposed in an outer periphery of the fastening structure (61, 61 a), the surrounding structure (62) including a plurality of sleeves (621) circularly connected to one another, each of the sleeves (621) including a chamber (622) for containing the bullet, an inner wall of each of the chambers (622) being in elastic contact with the bullet to position the same.
 2. The cylinder for the toy gun of claim 1, wherein the surrounding structure (62) consists of rubber and has elasticity.
 3. The cylinder for the toy gun of claim 1, wherein each of the sleeves (621) consists of rubber and has elasticity.
 4. The cylinder for the toy gun of claim 1, wherein the fastening structure (61, 61 a) consists of hard plastic.
 5. The cylinder for the toy gun of claim 1, wherein each of the chambers (622) includes a bottom end (6221) and a free end (6222) opposite to the bottom end (6221), and an inner diameter of each of the chambers (622) gradually decreases in a direction from the bottom end (6221) toward the free end (6222).
 6. The cylinder for the toy gun of claim 1, wherein each of the chambers (622) includes a bottom end (6221) and a free end (6222) opposite to the bottom end (6221), each of the chambers (622) includes a tapering inner diameter section (6223) close to each of the free ends (6222), and an inner diameter of the tapering inner diameter section (6223) gradually decreases in a direction from the bottom end (6221) toward the free end (6222).
 7. The cylinder for the toy gun of claim 1, wherein an inner wall of each of the sleeves (621) includes a friction structure (624), and the bullet is in contact with the friction structure (624) in each of the chambers (622).
 8. The cylinder for the toy gun of claim 7, wherein the friction structure (624) comprises a plurality of friction strips (6241), each of the sleeves (621) includes a bottom end (6211) and a free end (6212) opposite to the bottom end (6211), and the plurality of the friction strips (6241) of each of the sleeves (621) extend in a direction from the bottom end (6211) toward the free end (6212).
 9. The cylinder for the toy gun of claim 1, further comprising a base (63), each of the sleeves (621) of the surrounding structure (62) including a bottom end (6211) and a free end (6212) opposite to the bottom end (6211), the bottom end (6211) of each of the sleeves (621) being connected to one side of the base (63), the base (63) forming a plurality of openings (631) respectively corresponding to the chambers (622), each of the openings (631) communicating with each of the chambers (622).
 10. A magazine module having a cylinder, for containing bullets, the magazine module (500) comprising: a magazine body (5) including a fastener structure (54, 54 a); and a cylinder (6) comprising: a fastening structure (61, 61 a) rotatably disposed on the fastener structure (54, 54 a); and a surrounding structure (62) surroundingly disposed in an outer periphery of the fastening structure (61, 61 a), the surrounding structure (62) including a plurality of sleeves (621) circularly connected to one another, each of the sleeves (621) including a chamber (622) for containing the bullet, an inner wall of each of the chambers (622) being in elastic contact with the bullet to position the same.
 11. The magazine module having the cylinder of claim 10, wherein the surrounding structure (62) consists of rubber and has elasticity.
 12. The magazine module having the cylinder of claim 10, wherein each of the sleeves (621) consists of rubber and has elasticity.
 13. The magazine module having the cylinder of claim 10, the fastening structure (61, 61 a) consists of hard plastic.
 14. The magazine module having the cylinder of claim 10, wherein each of the chambers (622) includes a bottom end (6221) and a free end (6222) opposite to the bottom end (6221), and an inner diameter of each of the chambers (622) gradually decreases in a direction from the bottom end (6221) toward the free end (6222).
 15. The magazine module having the cylinder of claim 10, wherein each of the chambers (622) includes a bottom end (6221) and a free end (6222) opposite to the bottom end (6221), and each of the chambers (622) includes a tapering inner diameter section (6223) close to each of the free ends (6222), and an inner diameter of the tapering inner diameter section (6223) gradually decreases in a direction from the bottom end (6221) toward the free end (6222).
 16. The magazine module having the cylinder of claim 10, wherein an inner wall of each of the sleeves (621) includes a friction structure (624), and the bullet is in contact with the friction structure (624) in each of the chambers (622).
 17. The magazine module having the cylinder of claim 16, wherein the friction structure (624) comprises a plurality of friction strips (6241), each of the sleeves (621) includes a bottom end (6211) and a free end (6212) opposite to the bottom end (6211), and the plurality of the friction strips (6241) of each of the sleeves (621) extend in a direction from the bottom end (6211) toward the free end (6212).
 18. The magazine module having the cylinder of claim 10, wherein the cylinder (6) comprises a base (63), each of the sleeves (621) of the surrounding structure (62) includes a bottom end (6211) and a free end (6212) opposite to the bottom end (6211), the bottom end (6211) of each of the sleeves (621) is connected to one side of the base (63), the base (63) forms a plurality of openings (631) respectively corresponding to the chambers (622), and each of the openings (631) communicates with each of the chambers (622).
 19. The magazine module having the cylinder of claim 10, wherein the fastening structure (61, 61 a) and the fastener structure (54, 54 a) are a protruding shaft (541, 611 a) and a recess hole (541 a, 611), the protruding shaft (541, 611 a) is rotatably connected to the recess hole (541 a, 611), and the cylinder (6) is rotatable with respect to the magazine body (5) around the protruding shaft (541, 611 a) as axis. 